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The Macallan 12

November 23, 2023 Scotland

Name: The Macallan 12

Color: Light brown

Nose: Light oak and sherry

Taste: Medium bodied, sherry, orange citrus, sweet oak finish

As you can see from the picture, my former coworker is a very patient man. They say, “some things are worth waiting for”, personally, I had a bigger glass at my desk.

Macallan 12 is a very good and well-marketed brand of Scotch whisky. It is lighter in body and flavor which is easier to drink but a bad idea in a cocktail as the flavor will be lost among the mixers. If you would like to “up your Scotch game” or need arrive somewhere with a nicer bottle in your hand, Macallan 12 would be an excellent choice.

I always recommend Macallan 12 as an introduction Scotch for non-whisky drinkers due to the lighter flavor and balanced taste. The vast amount of whisky from Scotland can overwhelm you and you would not want to start out too strong or too complex in flavor such as Laphroaig or Dalmore.

Macallan 12 will be easier and more enjoyable on your palate as opposed to full-bodied whiskeys with ice or water.

Priced around $65+ and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask

November 9, 2023 Scotland

Name: The Balvenie Caribbean Cask

Color: Yellow

Nose: Malt, sugar cane, vanilla, light wood

Taste: Malt, tropical fruit, cream vanilla, honey, flowers

The Balvenie Distillery is located in Dufftown, Scotland which is the Speyside region. It was founded in 1886 by William Grant & Sons and I have not yet had a bad experience with their whisky but get what you pay for in life and with their expressions.

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask 14-Year-Old is bottled at 43% abv, aged in 14 years in oak barrels, and finished in rum cask from the West Indies. It is a medium body whisky with a good balance of malt and rum and a light oak finish. The color looks natural, but I could not confirm. It is very easy to drink on ice or neat. I think a slightly higher in abv would be better as the flavor profile would last longer when enjoyed on the rocks.

I purchased this expression last summer when I had to travel to Florida due to my Mum passing in July of 2021. She had been suffering for a long time and I was glad she was finally at peace. My Mum was born and raised in Glasgow, Scotland and she taught me many things. One thing she taught me even before I was into whisky was, “There is slipping whisky and then there is slugging whisky.” I was slugged a few glasses of this sipping whisky.

Priced around $90+ and worth the money to enjoy in warm weather or to raise a glass to your Mum.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Lagavulin 16

October 26, 2023 Scotland

Name: Lagavulin 16

Color: Caramel Brown

Nose: Smoke, peat and brine

Taste: Smoke, peat, orange iodine, smooth seaweed brine notes

Originating from the region of Islay in the Highlands of Scotland this single malt 16 year old whisky is in the realm of “Laphroaig” but has been smoothed out very nicely and finishes easy while still being a “big boy” Scotch. Do not misunderstand me, this is still a full-bodied peat smoke styled Islay Scotch but it is softer than others I have tried while maintaining its character. Most will still find it to be an acquired taste.

When you compare it to Laphroaig 10 you are getting 6 more years in the barrel and a much smoother finish so it’s going to cost you more but I feel it is worth it. You may also recognize this whisky if you watch “Ray Donavan” on Showtime as this is the one he seems drinks the most next to Blue Label. (Note: He is all over the map in what he drinks)

Priced between $80-90 it is a good value for those who love Islay whisky or are entering the heavier bodied smoke peat flavor spectrum.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Ardbeg 10

September 14, 2023 Scotland

Name: Ardbeg 10

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Peat, coal, smoke

Taste: Smokey peat, spices

Ardbeg 10 is a Highland scotch from the Islay region in Scotland that I like to put into a category I call “Big Boy Scotch”. Ardbeg is considered by some people in the whisky world to be the peatiest of all the scotches. I can think of a few other scotches out there that can compete for that title but with heavily peated scotch is truly a matter of individual taste. The name “Ardbeg” is Scottish Gaelic for a “small promontory”. A promontory is defined as “a point of high land that juts out into a large body of water”. See map below.

As I have mentioned in previous reviews, I like to start my tasting experiences with 10 to 12-year-old scotches so I can get a feel for the baseline flavor profile. Plus, and this is an important point since I self-fund this operation, they more affordable! Some people just like to jump to the much older and aged scotches. I never found this helpful in the learning process of tasting. It is hard to graduate upwards and gain appreciation for what you are drinking if you start with the best first. Also, many people are uneducated shits that want to look cool in the company of others. When it comes to heavily peated scotches I do not see the need to go to the oldest or most expensive bottle you are learning or developing a taste for peated whisky.

Ardbeg produces other expressions that range in price and quality. These expressions are, but not limited to the following; An Oa, Blasda, Corryvreckan, Supernova, Uigeadail, Rollercoaster, Alligator, Ardbeg Day, Kelpie, and Grooves. Some of the prices of these are very high and I look forward to the Rabbie Burns Tasting in 2019 to sample some of these expressions.

Price around $55 and a very good scotch if you like peated whisky. It is also a great scotch to warm you in cold winter weather.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Hendrick’s Gin

September 7, 2023 Scotland

Name: Hendrick’s Gin

Color: Clear

Nose: Juniper, cucumber, flowers

Taste: Juniper, cucumber, rose flowers, fresh tasting finish

Hendrick’s Gin is known as the “Cucumber Gin” and is manufactured by William Grant & Sons at the Girvan Distillery in Scotland. It was released in 1999 and is bottled at 44% abv. The are 11 botanicals in the gin; chamomile, elderflower, juniper, lemon peel, orange peel, caraway, coriander, cubeb berries, angelica root, yarrow root, and orris root. After the gin is distilled it is then infused with rose and cucumber. The taste is very different than the usual suspects like Bombay or Tanqueray.

I have only enjoyed this gin in two ways. In a martini or with tonic water. Below are my thoughts base on the photo in the review.

Regular Tonic: Clean and smooth tasting. Lighter than cheaper tonics.
Cucumber Tonic: Fresh tasting with medium strong cucumber flavors. Lighter than the regular tonic water.
Hendricks & Tonic w/ lime wedge: Gross. Lime does not mix well with the gin flavors.
Hendricks & Regular Tonic w/ cucumber slice: Fresh and clean nose, very light and summery. The quinine seems to overpower the finish. Tastes good.
Hendricks & Cucumber Tonic w/ cucumber slice: Very cucumber nose and taste. Not much quinine taste, little too syrupy for me but not bad. Tastes good, but very strong cucumber taste.
Martini Up w/ cucumber slice: Light and refreshing with clean cucumber taste. Easy to drink but comes off as a one and done cocktail. Not a repeat drink like a Bombay Sapphire.

Other expressions: Obrium, Midsummer Solstice, Absinthe, Amazonia, Lunar, and Neptunia.

Priced around $50 and worth the money if you like the cucumber taste or to experiment in summer cocktails.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Glenfarclas 12

August 17, 2023 Scotland

Name: Glenfarclas 12

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Malt, lemons, flowers, light wood

Taste: Malt, light smoke/oak, sherry, fresh citrus

Glenfarclas 12 is a Speyside Scotch from Ballindalloch, Scotland. The distillery was founded in the 1790’s and is now owned by the Grant Family. The name translates to “valley of the green grass”. There is a wide range of expressions and ages along with varying levels of reserves from the distillery. The older scotch that is released is known as “Family Casks” which is a collection of 43 single cask bottles from the 1950’s to early 2000’s. I have not seen that collection on the shelves but I bet that collection is not cheap. Next time I am in London I will see if Harrod’s sells the complete package.

Other expressions that you can find in the market for regular people: 8,10,12,15,17,18 (travel retail), 21, 25, 30, 40, 60, 105 (cask).

I have seen the 105 and the 15, 30 in a couple of stores, but not the rest of the years. I have sampled the 25-year-old, but it was about four years ago in Munich, Germany at 3am. So I do not really remember if it was good, but I think was good. I have learned since then not to drink good scotch late at night or that early in the morning.

The 12-year-old is a good baseline and worth the money. I do not see many people drinking, buying, or ordering Glenfarclas. I am not sure why that is, but it is worth trying to see if you like it.

Priced around $60 and worth the money.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Tomatin 12 Year Old – Bourbon & Sherry Casks

August 10, 2023 Scotland

Name: Tomatin 12 Year Old

Color: Golden brown

Nose: Vanilla, green fruit, light oak

Taste: Sweet wood flavor, caramel and vanilla.

Coming out of the Highlands of Scotland this Single Malt Scotch has been aged 12 years in combination of ex-bourbon and sherry casks. Aging the whisky in these casks is nothing new in technique or in the market place, but it gives a good finish to this scotch as it does with most whiskies. Tomatin 12 is medium-bodied and its finish has a bit of a cream wood taste. I was pleasantly surprised when I tasted it and my notes put it between “ok to good”. I consider this scotch “good to very good” when you look at the price.

If you need a scotch that tastes good, is very well priced, and you know your friends will drink it like spring water, this would be the scotch to purchase. You can kill a bottle while at the same time not murder your wallet.

I would definitely keep this one on the bar at home or show up to a party with one or two bottles in hand. Priced around $35-40 it is a very good value.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

John Barr

July 26, 2023 Scotland

Name: John Barr

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, oak wood, lemon, honey, vanilla

Taste: Malt, honey, vanilla, rough finish

John Barr Whisky is a brand I had not heard of so I bought a nip. I will not waste your time with with a lot of words. Fuck me sideways, this shit if dreadful. It taste like shit.

Priced around “who gives a fuck?” and “do not buy this piss poison shit whisky.”

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

June 1, 2023 Scotland

Name: Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, light wood, flowers, citrus, white pepper

Taste: Malt, lemon, vanilla, honey, light oak

Chivas Regal was created by James & John Chivas in the early 1800’s in Scotland. The Strathisla Distillery in Speyside region is now the source of all production and the distillery has changed ownership over the years. Chivas is a popular and leading blended whiskey in European and Asia markets. It is somewhat popular in the US market but Johnnie Walker and Kentucky Bourbons are the front runner for blends. Chivas has a very long history so if you are interested in learning more I recommend you look it up. I can only write so much in one review.

Chivas 18 is a blended scotch whiskey, bottled at 40% abv. It has a medium body and has a nice balance. It is an easy drinker and smooth tasting. It is good for a summer scotch and can be enjoyed on the rocks or neat.

I have had Chivas a few times over the years in peoples home mainly in Europe but when visiting the “A Hero to you and me Both” Sam Dean and he had this bottle to knock back around his fire pit in the back yard.

Other expressions: 12, Extra, Extra 13, 18, Royal Salute 21, 25, Brothers’ Blend, Ultis, Mizunara, The Icon, and XV.

Priced around $65 and a good summer drinker.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Speyburn 10

April 13, 2023 Scotland

Name: Speyburn 10

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Malt, honey, flowers, light wood

Taste: Sherry, malt, honey, cedar wood

Speyburn 10 Year Old is produced by Granty Glen Valley which is located in the Speyside region of Scotland. The distillery was founded in 1897 and is currently owned by Inver House Distillers Limited, which is owned by Thaibev from Thailand. The Inver House Distillers also have Old Pultney, Knockdhu, Balnair, and Balmenach under their control.

This medium bodied whisky is aged 10 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks and bottled at 40% abv. On my first taste it was very sweet on the palate. On the second taste the sweetness is still there, but a smoother quality malt flavor comes out on the finish.

This whisky is very nice to enjoy neat or on the rocks in warmer weather. I was not familiar with this whisky, so I took a chance on the bottle price vs. age, and it was worth it. It reminds me of Tomatin 12 for price and taste, but higher quality.

Priced around $40 and nice summer scotch for the price. I look forward to trying more expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

The Macallan 12

The Balvenie Caribbean Cask

Lagavulin 16

Ardbeg 10

Hendrick’s Gin

Glenfarclas 12

Tomatin 12 Year Old – Bourbon & Sherry Casks

John Barr

Chivas Regal 18 Gold Signature

Speyburn 10

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